Electro magnetic sepaeatoe



(N M a 1.)

o e R. R. MOPPATT & s. GHIGHESTER.

ELECTED MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

No. 462,322. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD R. MOFFATT, OF NEIV YORK, AND SYLVESTER CHICIIESTER, OFBROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

ELECTRO-MAG N ETlC SEPARATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,322, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed February 2,1891. Serial No. 379,874. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it Wmy concern:

Be itknown that we, RICHARD R. l\IOFFATT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, and SYL-vns'rnn CHIoHEsTER, a citizen of the United States, residingin the cityof Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Electro-Magnetic Separators, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact descriptiomsuch as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates to apparatus for separating magnetic andnon-magnetic matters from each other when they are mingled in a freestate, such as finely-pulverized magnetic 1ron ore associated withimpurities.

The invention consists in a novel method of feeding the particlesthrough the magnetic field and means for producing a vibratory agitationof the same, for the purpose of effectually separating the magneticparticles from the non-magnetic.

In carrying out our invention we illustrate the improvements applied toa new type of separator, which forms the subject-matter of anotherapplication made jointly by us and filed January 20, 1891, Serial No.378,407.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan, partly in section, ofa separating apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side View ofthe same, one half being shown in elevation and the other half insection taken on line so a: Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, andFig. 4 is a diagram, illustrating the elements for operating theinvention.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate like orcorresponding parts.

In the drawings, A A are the helix-coils of the field magnets. These areconnected in such a manner that an electric current active therein willproduce consequent poles of opposite nature in the pole-pieces N S. Thepole-pieces are connected to the projecting parts of the magnet-cores ina manner to permit a movement of the same thereon for the purpose ofincreasing or decreasing the space or opening between them. They areprovided with inclined field-faces, as shown.

a and s are plates, preferably made of thin soft sheet-iron. Theseplates are mounted in front of the pole-pieces, as shown in Fig. 3, soas to be capable of a slight movement toward and from the pole-pieces.To this end the plates are secured to non-magnetic pistons or pins a,that extend through and beyond the pole-pieces, being capable of a freeeasy movement therein. Collars are secured to the pistons a, andguide-frames are secured to the pole-pieces. A retract-ile spring 0 isso arranged on the piston as to cause the plates to be forced away fromthe polcpieccs. arrangement the plates have no magnetic contact with thepole-pieces and will therefore become completely demagnetized when themagnet is non-active, even when the polepieces are composed ofcast-iron,which naturally retains residual magnetism.

n and s are inclined plates made, preferably, of soft sheet-iron. Theseplates preferably have magnetic contact with the polepieces, as shown,and extend in a receding upward direction from the field, terminating inthe hoppers h, as shown in Fig. 2. The

magnet is supported on legs or in other suitable manner, and theapparatus is preferably inclosed and provided with means for producingair-currents, that move in the direction of the falling non-magneticparticles. Suitable rec ptacles e c and e are provided, into which theassorted particles pass.

M is a rotating circuit-changing (or breaking) device, such as is wellknown in the arts. This is arranged in the main circuit, as shown inFig. 4. By this means the electric current is switched into themagnet-circuit and the shunt or by-pass circuit alternately, whichoperation producesintermittent or pulsatory magnetic effect in thefield, and thereby a vibrating movement of the plates at .9;

If desired, other means may be employed for producing a magnetizing anddemagnetizing effect. The hoppers h are preferably made of softsheet-iron and located at a point where the magnetic particles thereinwill be effected by sufficient magnetic lines of force to prevent theirpassing from the feed-opening when the magnets are energized, but willfeed therefrom by gravity when the magnetic current is broken orinterrupted, thus regulating the flow of material from the hopper to thefield.

By this IOC If desired, the plates n 8 may be made from non-magneticmaterial and their movement caused by mechanical means actuated orcontrolled in part by magnetic force.

In the operation of our invention the circuit is closed with a suitableelectric source-- such as a dynamo Dand the circuit-changer M is rotatedwith a proper speed. The material to be treated (in a pulverizedcondition) is conveyed in a regulated manner by suitable means (notshown) to the hoppers h, from which they pass by gravitation to theinclined plates 71. s when the magnets are non-active; but when themagnets are active the magnetic particles in the material Will becomemagnetized by induction and adhere to each other and also to the hopperby attractive force, which will prevent their downward movement. Thecircuit-changer M,in rotating, switches the current through the circuitthat includes the magnet helix-coils A and the shunt or by-pass circuitthat includes the resistance R in an alternating manner, thus producingan intermittent or pulsating field and an intermittent or pulsating feedmovement of the particles from the hoppers and through the field. Theinclines nsbeing of magnetic material causes the movement of themagnetic particles thereon to be intermittent. When they reach theinverse inclined plates n s, the magnetic particles move away fromtheinverse inclined plates in a downward direction by their gravity whenthe magnet is non-active. Then the magnet is again energized and willdraw them by attractive force to the surface of the inclined plates n 3,their movement then being in a direction parallel with the lines offorce, which causes them to come into contact with the inclined platesat points-below their last contacts therewith, this operation, being continuous, producing a feed movement of the magnetic particles (throughthe field) in a lateral direction, thus causing them to pass into thereceivers e e.

In the operation of the apparatus the intermittent magnetic force andthe action of the retractile springs 0 produces a vibrating movement ofthe magnetic plate n s, the ef feet of which is to cause all magneticparticles to be thrown off and away. from the face of the inclinedplates 71 s, (when demagnetized,) which operation frees the plates fromcontact with even the finest magnetic dust, so that the action ofgravity moves them in a downward direction away from the inclineplates,thus eitectually separating all the free impurities from the magneticparticles, the

operation being continuous. The magnetic particles finally reach thelower part of the inclines (where the attractive force is weak) and fallinto receivers e c.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and the operationof our invention, what we claimas new, and desire to se cure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In an electro-magnetic separator, means for producing an intermittentor pulsating magnetic field, combined with a face-plate arranged to bevibrated by the intermittent magnetic force, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

2. In an electro-magnetic separator, the combination of a magnet, meansfor producing pulsations of magnetic force in the field, a movableinclined face-plate located in the field arranged to be vibrated by thepulsating magnetic force, and a retractile spring, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

3. In an electro-magnetic separator, the method of agitating magneticparticles by subjecting them to the action of a pulsating magneticfield, and a vibrating plate,substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4:. In an electro-magnetic separator, the magnet-plates, the hopper h,located above said plates and combined with means for producingintermittent magnetic action therein, so as to cause an intermittentfeed movement of the magnetic particles therefrom, substantially asspecified.

RICHARD R. MOFFATT. SYLVESTER OHIOHESTER.

Witnesses:

EVANDER M. HERRING, EDWIN M. LLOYD.

